Bat for ball game

ABSTRACT

A bat in the form of a sleeve can be slid over the hand of a player so that the latter can play as in tennis, on any type of ground, with or without a bounce on the ground. The bat (1) comprises an upper sleeve element (5) and a lower sleeve element (6) joined along an edge (7) wherein an opening (10) is provided for inserting the hand. Each sleeve element is more rigid in a flat central portion (11, 12) forming a striking surface than close to its periphery. The bat envelops and holds the hand due to its inherent elasticity. It may also comprise retaining means (13) on the surface and closure devices to each side of the wrist.

This application is a 371 of PCT/FR93/00874 filed Sep. 13, 1993.

The present invention relates to a bat for ball game, comprising twostriking surfaces on opposite sides and provided in a sleeve to receivea player's open hand.

Such a bat is in particular designed to make it possible to play a ballgame with or without the ball bouncing on the ground, similar to the waytennis is played, but on any surface whatsoever, generally smaller thantennis courts or in places where the ball can not bounce. With this aimin mind, there are already numerous types of bats forming racketswithout a shaft or with a shortened shaft which, on one or both sides ofthe hand, have a striking plate provided with a handle or a fastenerconnecting it to the player's hand. These devices have not been acommercial success, which can be attributed to shortcomings in terms oftheir efficiency, comfort and ability to adjust to the player's hand.

An example of prior art, described in patent application FR-A-2 437 848,is a bat comprising a sleeve in the external shape of an open hand, withtwo striking plates on its opposite sides, which converge slightly inthe direction of the end of the fingers. It is difficult for the hand,inserted in the gap in the shape of a dihedron between the two flatplates, to be both comfortable and held properly. The document describesanother embodiment where the sleeve is an actual glove with each sidehaving several striking plates spread out facing the fingers, palm andback of the hand. The result is a discontinuous striking surface, theshape of which can vary considerably with the movements of the handwhich does not therefore make it possible to direct the ball accurately.

The present invention aims to create a bat which to a great extentavoids the drawbacks mentioned above and which holds the hand and keepsit in position, relieving it of any gripping effort.

With this aim in mind, the invention relates to a bat of the typementioned above, characterised in that the sleeve is formed by twogenerally flat shaped elements, which are joined to one another alongtheir periphery with the exception of the opening for inserting thehand, and in that each element of the sleeve is more rigid in a flatcentral portion, where it forms a virtually flat striking surface, thanclose to its periphery.

In that way, the elasticity of the peripheral parts of the bat allow thelatter to envelop the player's hand providing both enough comfort andsensitivity for striking the ball. At the same time, the rigidity of thecentral portion serving as a striking surface makes it possible todirect the ball accurately.

In a preferred form of embodiment of the bat according to the invention,at least one of the sleeve elements comprises airholes in the area ofits striking surface. The airholes are preferably defined by a grid ofrigid ribs covering at least a part of the striking surface. The saidgrid can have an irregular layout forming a decorative figure.

The bat is preferably made of an elastic material which allows it to fitthe shape of the hand. At least the sleeve element situated on the palmside of the hand may have retaining means on the surface on the insideto keep it in position on the hand, with the said retaining meanscomprising at least one hollow to hold the palm on the side of the saidopening. The said retaining means can also have protuberances betweenthe fingers of the hand.

In a special form of embodiment, at least one of the two sleeve elementscan have two folds located on both sides of the position of the hand andconverging in the direction of the said opening, along with closuredevices provided outside the folds and provided to join both theelements together in such a way that they can be released on both sidesof a user's wrist.

Preferably, along the said opening, each sleeve element comprises a freeedge with a rounded, convex profile on the hand side. Each sleeveelement or both the elements can be a moulded piece in syntheticmaterial.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will behighlighted in the following description of various forms of embodiment,with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic elevation illustrating a bat according to theinvention and how it is used by a player,

FIG. 2 is a schematic view from above of the bat,

FIG. 3 is a schematic cutaway view along the III--III line in FIG. 2,

FIGS. 4a and 4b show the insides of the bat's two sleeve elements, in aspecial form of embodiment,

FIG. 5 is a view of the inside of the sleeve element seen facing thepalm and provided with retaining means,

FIG. 6 is a similar view of FIG. 5, illustrating another form ofembodiment, and

FIGS. 7 and 8 represent the two respective sides of a bat according tothe invention, in another form of embodiment.

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a bat 1 in the form of a sleeve,inserted over the hand 2 of a player 3 who uses the bat 1 like a racketto strike a ball 4. The player 3 can wear the bat 1 on his left or righthand, as he likes, or possibly one bat on each hand. As shall be seenlater, the bat 1 is used to strike the ball 4 with a forehand orbackhand drive.

The bat 1 is in a general shape illustrated by FIGS. 2 and 3 andcomprises an upper element 5, which goes on the back of the hand, and alower element 6 which goes on the palm side of the hand. The twoelements 5 and 6 are firmly attached or joined to one another on most oftheir periphery, e.g. sown or glued together, which forms a closed edge7 shown by an unbroken line in FIG. 2. On the rest of their periphery,the elements 5 and 6 have free edges 8 and 9 respectively between whichis provided an opening 10 to insert the hand in. In its central area,the upper element 5 comprises a relatively rigid flat part 11, servingas a striking surface to strike the ball with a backhand drive. Thelower element 6 is also provided with a relatively rigid flat part 12serving as a striking surface to strike the ball with a forehand drive.When the player's hand is inserted in the sleeve, the elements 5 and 6part elastically by bending in the vicinity of their common edge 7, withthe result that the bat 1 can hold simply by grasping the hand itcontains. In FIG. 2, it can be noticed that the shape of the bat issymmetrical on a plane, in such a way that it adapts equally well toboth the left hand and the right hand. In FIG. 3, it can be seen thatthe lower element 6 presents a hollow 13 between its flat part 12 andits free edge 9, to contribute to holding the bat on the hand byengaging the prominent base of the palm in this hollow. The two freeedges 8 and 9 have an outwardly curved profile to avoid hurting theplayer's skin.

Preferably, the closure devices are provided in the opening 10, oneither side of the player's wrist, so that the bat is held better on thehand. These can be press studs, "Velcro" self-gripping strips,fastenings devices with eyelets or any other equivalent means. Anexample of a closure device is illustrated in FIGS. 4a and 4b, whichshows the inner surfaces of the two sleeve elements 5 and 6. Eachelement 5, 6 is provided with two folds 14 which both converge in thedirection of the wrists and each mark an angle zone 15 where a pressstud 16, 17 is provided, used along with an additional button 17, 16provided on the other element. The folds 14 make it possible to easilyclose the angle zones 15 without excessive bending of the other parts ofthe element, particularly on its shaped edge 8, 9. The hollow 13 to holdthe hand in position is between the two folds 14 of the lower element 6.

Otherwise, FIGS. 4a and 4b show that the flat parts 11, 12 of the twoelements 5, 6 are hemstitched in the shape of a grid comprising airholes20 between rigid ribs 21. Good ventilation inside the bat is animportant comfort factor, in order to avoid the effects of perspiration.What is more, the ribs 21 make up a rough striking surface which makesit possible to spin the ball. They can have any appropriate crosssection whatsoever and in particular be wider on the hand side to reducethe contact pressure.

FIG. 5 shows a case where the retaining means on the surface provided onthe inside of the lower element 6 present, in addition to the hollow 13to hold the palm, undulations forming four long protuberances 22 betweenwhich the three middle fingers of the hand are placed. The symmetricalarrangement of these undulations is suitable for both the left and righthand. In the example in FIG. 6, similar protuberances 22 are provided inan element 6 provided with a ventilation grid made up of holes 20 andribs 21 as in the case of FIGS. 4a and 4b. Making these reliefs poses noproblem if the sleeve elements or the entire bat are moulded parts insynthetic material.

In another embodiment, each sleeve element can be made of two distinctlayers glued one on top of the other, i.e. a relatively rigid outerlayer and an internal padding layer with superficial reliefs which fitthose of the hand.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate a form of embodiment of a bat according to theinvention which presents an original and amusing appearance, evoking acat's head. FIG. 7 shows the outside of the lower element 24 of the bat,i.e. on the palm side of the hand, and FIG. 8 shows the upper element25. Both elements have similar outlines, but on element 24, the strikingsurface 26 is formed by a grid of ribs 27 and airholes 28 the shape ofwhich represents a cat's face. This pattern can of course be added towith colour printing. On the back of the bat, the striking surface 29 ofthe upper element 25 can be of any shape whatsoever, similar to the oneshown in FIGS. 4a and 4b.

This invention is not restricted to the examples of embodimentsdescribed above, but can be widened to include any modification orvariation which is obvious for the expert.

I claim:
 1. A bat, for playing a ball game, comprising:a unitary singlepiece elastic sleeve being closed at one end thereof and open at theother end, for insertion of a player's hand therein, and having frontand back sides for respectively overlying a front and back of a player'shand when inserted in said sleeve; said front and back sides of saidsleeve both having a substantially planar central portion, defining astriking surface, and a peripheral portion integrally formed with saidcentral portion, the peripheral portion of each side being connected tothe peripheral portion of the other side along the entire peripherythereof except for at the open end of said sleeve; said central portionsbeing more rigid than said peripheral portions, so that when a player'shand is inserted in said sleeve, said peripheral portions areresiliently stretched, and said sleeve grips such a player's hand forretaining such a player's hand in said sleeve, and said central portionsremain substantially planar; wherein a depression in an inner surface ofsaid front side of said sleeve, said depression being sized and shapedto at least partially receive a player's palm therein to facilitateretention of a slaver's hand in said sleeve; a free edge of the open endof said sleeve having an inwardly facing, relative to the sleeve,rounded, convex profile that, when a player's hand is inserted in saidsleeve, faces the player's hand; and at least one of the sides of saidsleeve has inwardly extending U-shaped folds formed therein, said foldsare spaced inwardly from the periphery of said sleeve and are adjacentto and on either side of said open end of said sleeve, said foldsconverge as they approach said open end and releasable closure means arelocated adjacent to and outside of each fold, relative to said open end,to, when a player's hand is inserted in said sleeve, close said open endon the player's wrist and retain said sleeve on the player's hand.
 2. Abat as in claim 1, wherein at least one protuberance, projects from aninner surface of said front side of said sleeve and substantiallyextends in a longitudinal direction of the sleeve, said at least oneprotuberance is sized, shaped and arranged to fit between fingers of aplayer's hand when inserted into said sleeve and the front and backsides of said sleeve are each individually symmetrical about alongitudinal axis thereof and said sleeve fits both a player's righthand and left hand.
 3. A bat as in claim 2, comprising four of saidprotuberances defining three spaces therebetween for receiving themiddle three fingers of a player's hand when inserted into said sleeve.4. A bat as in claim 1, comprising air holes in at least one of saidstriking surfaces for ventilating an interior of said sleeve.
 5. A batas in claim 4, wherein said air holes are defined by a grid of ribs thatdefine at least a portion of said striking surface(s).
 6. A bat, forplaying a ball game, comprising:a unitary single piece elastic sleevebeing closed at one end thereof and open at the other end, for insertionof a player's hand therein, and having front and back sides forrespectively overlying a front and back of a player's hand when insertedin said sleeve; said front and back sides of said sleeve both having asubstantially planar central portion, defining a striking surface, and aperipheral portion integrally formed with said central portion, theperipheral portion of each side being connected to the peripheralportion of the other side along the entire periphery thereof except forat the open end of said sleeve; said central portions being more rigidthan said peripheral portions, so that when a player's hand is insertedin said sleeve, said peripheral portions are resiliently stretched, andsaid sleeve grips such a player's hand for retaining such a player'shand in said sleeve, and said central portions remain substantiallyplanar; and wherein at least one protuberance, projects from an innersurface of said front side of said sleeve, said at least oneprotuberance substantially extends in a longitudinal direction of thesleeve and is sized, shaped and arranged to fit between fingers of botha player's left and right hand, respectively, when inserted into saidsleeve; and at least one of the sides of said sleeve has inwardlyextending U-shaped folds formed therein, said folds are spaced inwardlyfrom the periphery of said sleeve and are adjacent to and on either sideof said open end of said sleeve, said folds converge as they approachsaid open end and releasable closure means are located adjacent to andoutside of each fold, relative to said open end, to, when a player'shand is inserted in said sleeve, close said open end on the player'swrist and retain said sleeve on the player's hand.
 7. A bat, for playinga ball game, comprising:a unitary, single piece elastic sleeve closed atone end thereof and open at the other end, for insertion of a player'shand therein, and having front and back sides for respectively overlyinga front and back of a player's hand when inserted in said sleeve; saidfront and back sides of said sleeve both having a substantially planarcentral portion, defining a striking surface, and a peripheral portionintegrally formed with said central portion, the peripheral portion ofeach side being connected to the peripheral portion of the other sidealong the entire periphery thereof except for at the open end of saidsleeve; said central portions being more rigid than said peripheralportions, so that when a player's hand is inserted in said sleeve, saidperipheral portions are resiliently stretched, and said sleeve gripssuch a player's hand for retaining such a player's hand in said sleeve,and said central portions remain substantially planar; and wherein atleast one of the sides of said sleeve has inwardly extending, relativeto said sleeve, U-shaped folds formed therein, said folds are spacedfrom the periphery of said sleeve and are adjacent to and on either sideof said open end of said sleeve, said folds converge as they approachsaid open end and releasable closure means are located outside of eachfold, relative to said open end, to, when a player's hand is inserted insaid sleeve, close said open end on the player's wrist and retain saidsleeve on the player's hand.
 8. A bat as in claim 7, comprising fourprotuberances, projecting from an inner surface of said front side ofsaid sleeve, that extend generally in a longitudinal direction of thesleeve and are sized, shaped and arranged to fit between the middlethree fingers of a player's hand when inserted into said sleeve;andwherein the front and back sides of said sleeve are each symmetricalabout a longitudinal axis thereof and said sleeve fits both a player'sright hand and left hand.
 9. A bat as in claim 7, comprising air holesin at least one of said striking surfaces for ventilating an interior ofsaid sleeve.
 10. A bat as in claim 9, wherein said air holes are definedby a grid of ribs that define at least a part of said strikingsurface(s).
 11. A bat as in claim 7, comprising a depression in an innersurface of said front side of said sleeve, said depression being sizedand shaped to at least partially receive a player's palm therein tofacilitate retention of a player's hand in said sleeve.